The Rolling Stones Rock Hyde Park for the First Time in 44 Years
By: Amber Harvey7/8/2013

The Rolling Stones returned to London’s Hyde Park for the first time in 44 years on Saturday night, playing to a sold-out crowd of 65,000 and opening with the fan-requested “Start Me Up” for the first time on their 50 & Counting tour, confirms the band’s website.

During their 17-song setlist, the UK rockers were joined by Gary Clark Jr. on “Bitch,” as well as the Voce Choir and members of the London Youth Choir on “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”

Former band member and guitarist Mick Taylor, who played his first Stones gig at Hyde Park on July 5th in 1969—replacing founding member Brian Jones just two days after his death—accompanied the band on “Midnight Rambler” and the night’s final encore song, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”

The Stones’ 1969 Hyde Park appearance, which brought in record-breaking quarter-million attendees, is just one of many legendary rock concerts to have taken place at this venue over the past few decades, including an acclaimed performance by Queen in 1976 and Pink Floyd’s reunion for Live 8 in 2005.

In recent years, Hyde Park has been criticized for poor acoustics and the 2012 incident where authorities pulled the plug on Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen mid-performance for violating a noise curfew, as reported by UK’s The Guardian.

Despite these facts, the Stones’ Saturday night performance went on without issue. Frontman MickJagger took to Twitter before the concert to express his excitement, saying: “Beautiful day in London, can't wait for the show. Been up early ironing my clothes.”

On Sunday, the legendary singer and tennis fan tweeted again: “What a great audience at last night's show, & such a beautiful sunset. All the best to Andy Murray for today's match #wimbledonfinal”

The band’s next Hyde Park performance will take place on July 13, when Jagger and company will return to the venue for another sold-out and star-studded concert that will conclude their summer tour dates.

For more info on the Rolling Stones, check out the band’s website and Facebook page, and be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!